“There is material enough in a single flower for the ornaments of a score of cathedrals.”
John Ruskin
Like so many Americans, the day after Thanksgiving I pulled out my stored Christmas décor. I’m not one to shop on Black Friday, preferring not to fight the crowds for sale items that I don’t need. Instead, I chose to bask in the deliciousness of autumn by spending time meandering around my garden with my adopted animals in tow, deciding where to display my holiday treasures. It was a beautiful clear, warm day with a gentle breeze that tickled the leaves to fall like feathers. Songbirds caroled as hawks circled above in the air currents. As I inhaled the fragrance of pine needles, I exhaled joy and gratitude for such natural splendor.
What I realized was that Mother Nature had already decorated my landscape for the holidays with colorful leaves carpeting the flower beds and blooming white chrysanthemums imitating snow.
The merry berry bushes of nandina, cotoneaster, and pyracantha were chock full of fiery red fruit favored by wildlife.
Hachiya persimmons resembled bright orange ornaments hanging on the near-bare branches. I mistook a lone red pomegranate hanging from the golden-leafed tree for a crimson Christmas bulb.
Sprays of yellow Meyer lemons glowed like sunshine, while azalea bushes sported leaves in rainbow hues.
I climbed the hillside steps to marvel at the multitude of cherry-pink pistache berries flanked by the redwood tree that the squirrels had not devoured this year. In the foreground, my weathervane of a prancing deer reminded me of Dancer flying through the night sky.
I hung gold and red giant ornaments on my Japanese Maples. They glistened in the afternoon glare, yet these trinkets made by humans could not compare to what Mother Nature had already designed.
Many people seek a Christmas tree or Hannukah bush to brighten their homes in December. Every tree is a perfect tree, even those Charlie Brown ones, especially if a child chooses. If possible, buy a living tree that can be placed on your patio after the holidays are over this year and be reused for the next festivity. Or any tree can be decorated. I always light up my fiddle leaf fig tree and fill it with ornaments and garlands. Fig trees are terrific for keeping indoor air fresher.
When considering trees, it’s essential to also think about safety. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, last year over 15,000 people ended up in the emergency room due to decorating falls, burns, cuts, strains, and electrical shocks.
Here are a few suggestions to decorate safely:
ü Light your yuletide with the freshest tree whether you buy a tree from a lot or cut one yourself. Look for ultra-green needles that are not falling off the tree. Shake the tree and if the needles stay put, you have a winner.
ü If your tree is not a living tree, soak your tree for 24 hours before installing it and keep the basin always filled with water.
ü Keep all trees, branches, and flammable decorations away from fireplaces, radiators, and high-traffic areas.
ü Hang stockings on chimneys only when there is no fire burning.
ü Buy new lights that have been tested by the Underwriters Laboratory (UL). Make sure that lights for your garden are labeled as outdoor capable. All lights need good wiring, devoid of any broken or cracked sockets, frayed wires, or loose connections. Only use extension cords that are designed for the outdoors and beware of the number of light sets that may be attached.
ü Never add electric lights to metallic ornamentations as you could be exposing yourself to electrocution.
ü When climbing ladders, use the buddy system.
ü Unplug lights and all electrical devices whenever you leave the premises and especially when you go to bed.
Goddess Gardener December Garden Tips
ü CONSIDER purchasing a living Christmas tree instead of a cut one. Garden centers have a selection of cypress, pine, fir, and even rosemary clipped to resemble a Christmas tree. Place your tree in a charming copper container or wrap it with festive fabric. Live trees will survive year after year and prices are reasonable.
ü FERTILIZE shrubs and trees after all the leaves have fallen to provide food to last for the season.
ü RAKE the overabundance of leaves in your gardens to add to the compost pile.
ü RESEED lawns with Pearl’s Premium Ultra Low Maintenance Lawn Seed if you are keeping a lawn. The roots grow down to six feet with 75% less water, and no chemicals are needed which keeps children, animals, pollinators, and biodiversity safer. Pearl’s Premium lawn seed sequesters 10 times the carbon compared to shallow root grass. Best of all, scatter it over your existing grass to outcompete everything. www.PearlsPremium.com
ü GATHER pinecones, berries, twigs, and grasses to add to your arrangements.
ü ATTRACT birds to your backyard throughout the cold months by keeping feeders filled and baths ready.
ü PICK persimmons, pomegranates, quince, and lemons to use in displays and holiday cooking.
ü PRUNE dormant fruit trees including peach, apricot, prune, plum, apple, and pear. Save the wood for barbecues next summer.
ü LIGHT up your decorations with battery-powered twinkle lights, or other outdoor lights set to timers. Trees trimmed with lights inspire delight.
ü HARVEST cauliflower, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts.
ü ALLOW rosehips and berries to remain on the bushes as holiday bird feasts and picturesque ornaments.
Nature provides enough material to decorate the holidays with ornaments as glorious as cathedrals. Embrace them as part of your festivities.
Raised in the vineyards of Napa County, Cynthia Brian is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, radio personality, speaker, media and writing coach as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3. Tune into Cynthia’s StarStyle® Radio Broadcast at www.StarStyleRadio.com.
Her newest children’s picture book, No Barnyard Bullies, from the series, Stella Bella’s Barnyard Adventures is available now atwww.cynthiabrian.com/online-store For an invitation to hang out with Cynthia for fun virtual events, activities, conversations, and exclusive experiences, buy StarStyle® NFTs at https://StarStyleCommunity.com
“It was only a sunny smile, and little it cost in the giving, but like morning light it scattered the night and made the day worth living.”~ F. Scott Fitzgerald
A Message from founder/Executive Director, Cynthia Brian
Have you ever stopped to contemplate the importance of your smile? When we walk down the street and smile at a stranger, we give the gift of recognition. A smile says “I see you” and every person desires to be seen. As humans, we want to be appreciated and acknowledged. Smiling costs us nothing yet it offers innumerable value to the recipient. We never know what is transpiring in the life of another person. Your smile could be life saving.
This holiday season as we write checks to donate to causes dear to our heart, I encourage you to also give the gift of a smile to everyone you encounter. You will feel empowered and you will shine a light on the soul of another.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others” ~ Mahatma Gandhi
Folks, can you think of an entity that is both easy to come-by and very hard to find at the same time? It’s time, my friends. So why talk about time when talking about giving back to society? The answer lies in the inherent value of time. Time is the most precious resource that an individual can contribute to any worthy cause or person.
This philosophy of donating time to people in need forms the bedrock of human culture. Both in moments of joy and sorrow, we look to share our feelings with others.
Moreover, the scale does not matter. What matters is the gesture itself. Taking the time to listen to someone’s problems and offer a shoulder to cry on relieves some of their pain and replaces it with peace. If you manage to do this with just one person a day, you have made the world a little more emphatic. So, giving back to society does not have to involve grand gestures and major financial commitments; it can simply be achieved by devoting a little time and effort to being emotionally available.
Shubham Acharya is a Be the Star You Are!® volunteer in Mumbai, India who believes strongly in women’s empowerment and children’s literacy. Shubbam writes: “My mother was a teacher in a government sponsored school in one of the poorest localities in my area, so I grew up very aware of the importance of education and literacy in changing people’s lives. Having said this, I fell in love with the Be the Star You are!® motto ‘To be a leader, you must be a READER’.”
The Gift of Friendship
By Karen Kitchel
Not all gifts come wrapped in shiny paper with a bow on top. When we think about a time we’ve felt real joy or comfort, it was often because someone had given us the gift of friendship. It’s not the number of years we’ve known them. It’s the feeling we get when they cross our minds.
During the last year, many of us have turned to those special folks for both support and laughter. It would be easy to take these kind souls for granted, but they deserve so much more.
Let us all take a moment now to speak the names of those whom we consider to be our friend and give thanks for the gift of their presence in our life.
Karen Kitchel who penned two chapters in the book, Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers Celebrating Gifts of Positive Voices in a Changing Digital World, is the Kindness Coordinator volunteer with BTSYA. She serves meals to the homeless and is a volunteer teacher, writer, job coach, and mentor. www.scatteringkindness.com
Santa Claus is Coming to Town!
Come celebrate the holidays as Be the Star You Are!® charity and 5 A Rent-A-Space bring the North Pole to Moraga. Children will write letters to Santa and talk to Jolly St. Nick. Buy gifts for the holidays with autographed copies of the new children’s book, No Barnyard Bullies while enjoying complimentary refreshments, music, and crafts for kids. The event is FREE! Lots of fun giveaways, too! Bring the family. BTSYA sponsored by Mark hoogs, State Farm Insurance, www.TeamHoogs.com. Thank you!
Location: 5 A Rent a Space, 455 Moraga Rd f, Moraga, CA 94556, USA
Make a Donation and Receive a Beautiful Dayspring Engraved Pen
Dayspring Pens is proud to partner with Be the Star You Are! through a donation of 50 engraved pens. With a donation of $250 to Be the Star You Are!®, the donor will receive a unique luxury gift pen with custom engraving. Dayspring is honored to be able to donate to an organization that works so diligently to produce positive media and encourage families through books to be what they are! Dayspring hopes that this donation of pens can show the respect and appreciation they hold for those who are vital to Be the Star You Are!’s work of empowering women, families, and youth through the power of positive role models. Visit Dayspring Pens @ https://www.dayspringpens.com
The holiday shopping spree is in full swing. We have suggestions for you to shop, save, and stay safe. Please use these web sites for all of your shopping essentials.
“Landscapes move us in a manner more analogous to the action of music than to anything else. Gradually and silently the charm carries over us: the beauty has entered our souls we know not exactly when and how.” Frederick Law Olmstead
It was in the 1860s that America’s pioneer landscape architect brought calming, pastoral public areas to urban dwellers with his design of New York’s Central Park. Throughout his life, Frederick Law Olmstead, designed 100 public parks and recreation grounds and his successor firm has seen the development of over 1090 parkway systems over the last 100 years. With all his parks, he planted peace and tranquility for posterity.
Post Thanksgiving, it is finally feeling like autumn with cooler and crisper air, turning leaves, and stressless strolls through bucolic parks. Our climate is changing and as gardeners we struggle to keep pace.
November is the best time to begin planting spring-blooming bulbs. I picked my first bouquet of narcissi of the season on November 1st before I had even begun planting any other bulbs. Once the ground chills to about 55 degrees, start the process of planting naturalizing narcissi as well as other bulbs in well-drained sandy loam where they’ll receive at least six hours of sunlight daily.
With our dense, nutrition-lacking California clay soil, we need to amend it with sand, peat moss, and compost before digging the holes. All flower bulbs require neutral PH soil around 7.0 to develop a strong root system that supports flowers. Mother Nature is busy spreading her wild seeds via the wind, birds, animal fur, and even our stocking feet. Most flowers need the next few colder months to rest and germinate. Before the geese head south, walk around your yard to ponder what you’ll want to improve, include, edit, or change for the spring. Our year of outdoor work is winding down as our celebration of gratitude approaches. Work off the calories of the holiday season with garden chores in preparation for a respite this coming winter. Head to the park to unwind, encounter stillness, and appreciate beauty. Listen to the music of nature.
ü PROTECT plant roots by mulching your garden.
ü TURN the soil in your vegetable garden, pull out any unwanted growers such as mint, add buckets of compost, and plant a nitrogen-rich cover crop like fava beans or clover. Blanket the ground with straw and continue mulching until planting time in spring.
ü SUPPRESS weeds while enriching the soil by laying newspaper (three or four sheets) on your bare earth. The newspaper will biodegrade and the zinc in the ink adds nutrients to the mulch. Cover with straw, leaves, or wood chips to continue adding nutrients.
ü GRIND fallen leaves with a mower to reduce particle size and increase decomposition time.
ü DIG up bulblets of mother bulbs with numerous offshoots. Separate and replant in other areas.
ü SOAK ranunculus and anemone tubers in tepid water overnight or for at least three or four hours before planting three inches deep and six inches apart in well-draining soil in full sunlight.
ü PLANT spring bulbs beginning this month. Make sure you have refrigerated your tulips and crocus for at least four weeks before being dug. The best bulbs to plant for spring radiance include:
Daffodil: Hardy in cold or warm climates. Daffodils grow great in pots, too!
Tulip: Also great in containers. Group like colors together for the greatest impact.
Freesia: Magnificently scented in a rainbow of colors.
Ranunculus: Cottage-style flowers with peony-like blooms.
Hyacinth: Tough, fragrant, growing in sun or shade.
Iris: Purple, blue, white, yellow, and mauve Dutch iris make great cut flowers.
Anemone: Single or double colorful tubers prefer light shade.
Crocus: Only a few inches high, you’ll know winter is waning when they sprout.
ü FORCE hardy flower bulbs of amaryllis, freesias, and paperwhites for Christmas blooming by potting them in sterile, neutral PH potting soil in an area where they will enjoy a temperature of 72-82 degrees Fahrenheit with good air circulation and low humidity. Give them a big drink of warm water, tamp down the soil, and do not water again until green sprouts. Amaryllis will sprout spectacular shows within eight weeks.
ü CUT stalks of peonies to ground level and discard the cuttings as they are not good for compost. If your peonies didn’t bloom, they may be planted too deep. Dig them up this month, rework the soil, and replant ½ inch higher than the soil level.
ü COOK a pan of cubed winter squash with rosemary for a healthy and satisfying autumn inspired side dish.
ü TURN OFF sprinkler systems. Water by hand when necessary.
ü LOWER mower height as lawn growth slows. If you didn’t fertilize in October or earlier in November, fertilize now with an organic fall blend.
ü GUARD against an unexpected frost by watering deeply and covering susceptible shrubs with burlap, fabric, or blankets the afternoon before the cold arrives.
ü REDUCE your garden work out by seeking out plants that are identified as “compact”. Look for tags that say dwarf, patio, knee-high, tiny, or baby in the variety name. If a plant tag says “perfect for cut flowers” it will grow to be too large for a small space.
ü PICK pomegranates as they ripen or split. Harvest persimmons on trees that are being ravaged by birds and squirrels even before they are ripe. Leave on the countertop to ripen as needed.
ü VISIT our local parks to inhale autumn aromas and savor the sensational fall foliage.
2022 marks the 200th birthday of Frederick Law Olmstead. As we celebrate Thanksgiving, we can add his legacy to our thankfulness list for introducing America to the beauty, tranquility, and necessity of experiencing nature through the development of idyllic parks in towns and cities.
Let us also give our thanks to the hard-working volunteers of local garden clubs who have planted a multitude of bulbs that will blanket our roadways and hillsides with glorious blooms come spring!
My gratitude to YOU for reading my garden musings. Savor the peace of parks this season with friends and family and celebrate the melodic beauty of our rural landscapes.
Pace, plant, pick, and protect!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
Saturday December 10th is Santa Day at 5 A in collaboration with Be the Star You Are!® charity. Come get your photo taken with Santa and his elf plus book signing of the children’s book, No Barnyard Bullies, the perfect holiday gift delivering kindness. Thanks to Mark Hoogs of State Farm Insurance (www.TeamHoogs.com) for sponsoring BTSYA. Info: www.bethestaryouare.org/copy-of-events
Happy gardening and happy growing. Happy Final Days of Fall!
Raised in the vineyards of Napa County, Cynthia Brian is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, radio personality, speaker, media and writing coach as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3. Tune into Cynthia’s StarStyle® Radio Broadcast at www.StarStyleRadio.com.
For holiday gifts, buy copies of her newest children’s picture book, No Barnyard Bullies, from the series, Stella Bella’s Barnyard Adventures along with her garden books, Growing with the Goddess Gardener and Chicken Soup for the Gardener’s Soul atwww.cynthiabrian.com/online-store
No one likes a bully. Not even in the animal kingdom.
That is the main message of my newest book, No Barnyard Bullies, the first book in the children’s book series, Stella Bella’s Barnyard Adventures. Published in October, this book with a message of kindness and inclusivity is endearing itself to everyone who buys a copy. With glorious, colorful, yet life-like illustrations by Jensen Russell, both children and adults are mesmerized.
The Be the Star You Are!® Kindness Coordinator, Karen Kitchel, was one of the first to buy copies for the entire kindergarten class where she volunteers in Minnesota. Here’s what she wrote to me after delivering the books to these darling kindergarteners.
Hi Cynthia,
I had the greatest time today reading your book to kindergarteners and then giving them their own book to take home and share with their family. The first comment I heard was “I love this book!”
So I began by telling them about my friend, Cynthia who lives in California and who loves animals. I told them you were an author and asked what an author does. First response was “they make books.”
The lesson about being kind was easy for these little students to understand. They very much enjoyed hearing about Cookie, the piglet, and how she learned to be kind to her farm friends. We talked about what it feels like to be around a bully and what we can do in that situation.
They absolutely loved the story and really paid attention.
I was so pleased that the teacher planned the morning around the book. After I gave each student their very own book, I received a lot of hugs for doing so. We moved to our next project which was – what did you learn from the book? Then each member of the class drew a picture of what they learned from the book. Amazing to see how these kids translated this story about animals to things they can do to be kind every day.
Cynthia, I hope you realize that what you did was such a wonderful lesson! Thanks again for creating this opportunity!
Much love,
Karen Kitchel
When I received this email, along with these fantastic photos, I cried and my heart sang. There is nothing better than making other people happy, and the best is seeing the joy on children’s faces as they are inspired to be the best versions of themselves.
My deepest gratitude to Karen Kitchel for this great gift of kindness to her students. Make sure to read her Scattering Kindness blog.
Another BIG THANK YOU goes out to Margi Sullivan for hosting a No Barnyard Bullies event at her beautiful art gallery, Point Richmond Gallery, in Richmond, California.
Throughout the afternoon families arrived at the gallery where I read No Barnyard Bullies to an enraptured audience of kids, followed by showing them videos and photos of the real characters from the book. The children shared their stories about their animals, school, friends, and bullies. Adults were treated to wine and champagne!
Margi’s art project included the children getting their body outlined on paper so that they could color it. Listening to the children discuss how they are kind and caring was deliciously sweet and very informative.
There is hope for the future of the world with children who care, share, and are fair.
I am so appreciative to Margi Sullivan for hosting this important and fun learning activity. We will be collaborating to offer more empowering events, readings, storytelling, and book signings. Make sure to visit her gallery located at 145 W. Richmond Avenue, 94801 when you are visiting the charming town of Point Richmond on the San Francisco Bay. Thank you, Margi.
DO YOU WANT TO HOST AN EVENT OR PURCHASE BOOKS IN BULK?
If you, your company, or business would like to host an event or buy books in bulk to donate to schools, organizations, or other venues for children, please shoot me an email at cynthia@star-style.com. Discounted prices are available for bulk buying.
People who have bought autographed copies of No Barnyard Bullies are enthusiasticabout the message and indicate that these books make the perfect holiday present.
“Dear. Cynthia, Thank you so much. I think your book is one of the most inspired ideas I’ve had for Christmas.” Nora A.
“I can’t wait to share it with the grands and impart your book’s wonderful wisdom and very important message.” Sharon R.
“Love, love, love the book! You’ve found and created your star dust! Rave reviews from everyone who has read it!” Eileen G.
“I love the colors. The story is charming and Jensen did a great job with the illustrations.” Kenneth K
“Oh my goodness Cynthia, signed copy, delivered with goodies galore. Very grateful” Louise D.
Tell your friends about No Barnyard Bullies. and also, make sure to check out the gorgeous NFTS with characters from the book. By purchasing an NFT, you become a part of the StarStyle® Community that is making a difference in the world. You also are invited to exclusive experiences. Check it out. https://starstylecommunity.com
Proceeds from the book and NFTS benefit Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3 charity empowering women, families, and youth. Together we can grow kindness and inclusivity while making children smile with this very special book!
Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Giving!
THANK YOU ALL!
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“With our thoughts, we make the world.”
~ Buddha
A MESSAGE FROM FOUNDER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CYNTHIA BRIAN
Halloween is almost over and we hope it was fun, safe, and spooky for all the kiddos! I love seeing all the costumes and the houses decorated for this very favorite holiday.
Now it’s time to get down to the importance of literacy and your vote.
According to U.S. Code §10508, any voter who requires assistance to vote because of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write may be assisted by a person of the voter’s choice, other than the voter’s employer or agent of that employer or officer or agent of the voter’s union. Yet with redistricting and the numerous new State laws targeting people of color and other minorities, voting for people who struggle to read is challenging. According to ProLiteracy, more than 35 million adults in the United States cannot read, write, or do basic math above a third-grade level. An estimated 63 million adults only read between a sixth and with grade level. Children of those parents have a 72% chance of being at the lowest reading levels themselves. Parents are our first teachers.
Understanding a ballot is difficult when one is a proficient reader as many of the statements are confusing. When a person has low or no literacy skills, knowledgeable voting is almost impossible. Some states have required those who need help to sign an affidavit explaining why they need assistance. Other states do not allow voters to bring sample ballots to the polls and some states limit the number of voters a volunteer may assist. Even when federal courts strike down these restrictions, states create more obstacles.
Voter suppression is real, yet voting is a right of all Americans. The cost of illiteracy to American taxpayers has climbed to $250 billion a year. When someone can’t read, they are excluded from innumerable activities that allow them to function as a human or to reach a level of success. Many are forced to live in poverty. Our prisons are filled with illiterate inmates.
The midterm elections are upon us. Carefully read the sample ballots and if you know someone who has difficulty reading, read the information to them.
Although our young children cannot vote, READ to them daily. Reading to kids early on can help to boost literacy rates over the long term. An estimated 77% of children who are read to are more likely to read or attempt to read on their own, versus 57% of kids who don’t have regular story time at home. Growing up in a literacy-rich environment will one day enable them to be voters who understand what’s on the ballot.
In California, one proposition on the ballot that is not contested is Proposition 28 which will provide the arts to our students. As a mom, actor, author, artist, and coach, I’m asking you to Vote YES on California Proposition 28 on the November 8 ballot. If passed, Proposition 28 will funnel nearly $1 billion annually in new funding to arts and music education in our PreK-12 public schools. All without raising taxes!
A well-rounded education might start with language and math, science and history. But it is not complete without the arts, and on that score, too many California schoolchildren are getting shortchanged.
When the state budgets get tight, arts and music programs are often the first to go. As a result, barely 1 in 5 California elementary schools have full-time art and music program.
Children deserve an opportunity to discover and develop their creative talents. Plus, research shows that students in art classes tend to do better in other subjects and are less likely to miss school. Arts education also correlates to better mental and physical well-being.
For the adults reading this newsletter, remember your vote matters. The political environment has been especially hostile, negative, and violent this season. Study the reference guide to familiarize yourself with the ballot. Vote for the people, policies, and programs that will create a better environment for our nation, our states, and our communities, as well as for you.
This election season can create stress and division, but it also presents an opportunity to inspire kindness with our words and actions.
The Inspire Kindness organization captures many ideas to make the world a kinder place. They offer some good tips to inspire kindness in conversations.
Be kind today, tomorrow, and always!
Karen Kitchel who penned two chapters in the book, Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers Celebrating Gifts of Positive Voices in a Changing Digital World, is the Kindness Coordinator volunteer with BTSYA. She serves meals to the homeless and is a volunteer teacher, writer, job coach, and mentor. www.scatteringkindness.com
EXPRESS YOURSELF TEEN RADIO’S NEWEST REPORTER
Alix Erlij
Alix Erlij is a senior in high school in Los Angeles who loves all things food! She operates a restaurant review blog and Instagram account called “Sweet and Savory LA” and works at AOC, a well-known farm-to-table restaurant. She also is a volunteer for CCAP, Careers Through Culinary Arts, the managing editor of her school’s newspaper, the leader of a feminist club at her school, and the captain of her water polo team. Alix hopes to share the importance of food and doesn’t hold back any of her strong-willed opinions about restaurants! Her first report is about her favorite picks for Los Angeles Restaurants on Halloween or whenever. Tune in at https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/140013/halloween-and-great-la-restaurants
CYNTHIA BRIAN HONORED ON THE POINTS OF LIGHT INSPIRATION HONOR ROLL
The Points of Light Inspiration Honor Roll was created to celebrate acts of service, kindness, and civic engagement by individuals who create change in communities around the world. It recognizes the people who take action, in both large and small ways, to improve the lives of others. This year, more people are volunteering, using their voices, giving back through work, and taking action when they see a need. Points of Light honors Cynthia Brian, Founder/Executive Director of Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3 charity on this year’s Inspiration Honor Roll. Uplifting stories show how in communities worldwide, the power of people continues to drive the world forward. See the honorees: https://www.pointsoflight.org/inspiration-honor-roll/2022-2/
PEAR FESTIVAL A GREAT SUCCESS
Thanks once again to our volunteer coordinator, Sharanya Roy, and our two sponsors, Lamorinda Weekly Newspaper and MB Jessee Painting for helping Be the Star You Are!® create another fantastic event for families. Our volunteers were kept busy with activities for kids and attendees enjoyed the festivities.
Thanks to everyone who bought books and donated. We appreciate you!
No Barnyard Bullies , based on a true story, is the latest book with proceeds benefiting Be the Star You Are!®. Pick up your copies today. They’ll make great holiday gifts that encourage KINDNESS and INCLUSIVITY.
NOT TO BE MISSED!
Buy an NFT for $99 to support Be the Star You Are!® and you are entitled to a bevy of exclusive experiences only for members of the StarStyle® Community.
Mark your calendars and get ready to have fun! Here’s what’s coming up:
Sunday, November 6th, 1pm PT/4pm ET – First ZOOM hangout with Cynthia Brian and Special Guest
First ZOOM hangout with Cynthia Brian and special guest, illustrator Jensen Russell. Find out the true story about the animals behind the book No Barnyard Bullies and how the illustrator interpreted the events. Ask questions and get answers.
Saturday, November 12th, 3-5pm PT – In-Person Book Signing
In-Person Book Storytelling and Signing at Point Richmond Art Gallery, 145 West Richmond Avenue, Point Richmond, California, 94801. Come meet Cynthia, enjoy refreshments, art, and a FREE gift to NFT holders. Bring the kids and the family!
Monday, November 21st, 2pm PT/5pm ET – “Thanksgiving is Everyday”
“Thanksgiving is Every Day” Zoom discussion about how to be grateful with Cynthia Brian
Sunday, December 18th, 4pm PT/7pm ET – Virtual Wine Experience and class
Virtual Wine Experience and class with Sommelier Heather Brittany
Be empowered, motivated, energized, informed and amused.Truthful, heartfelt, and engaging topics and guests!LIVE on Wednesdays from 4-5pm PT, be entertained, informed, amused, and educated on StarStyle-Be the Star You Are!. Then be inspired and motivated onSundays from 3-4pm PT, it’s Express Yourself! Teen Radio with our Be the Star You Are! star teen hosts and reporters.VISIT
https://www.StarStyleRadio.com
for our line-up of topics and guests.
SIMPLE WAYS TO HELP!We have suggestions for you to shop, save, and stay safe. Please use these web sites for all of your shopping essentials.1. AmazonSmile donates .5% of purchases https://smile.amazon.com/ch/94-3333882
A MESSAGE FROM FOUNDER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CYNTHIA BRIAN
Do you have any idea what the metaverse is? Be the Star You Are!® has entered the realm beyond the stars!
Basically the metaverse is an online simulation mimicking the contours of the real world where we live. It is a mix of virtual and augmented realities.
Do I understand it? No!
Do I want to understand and be a part of it? Yes!
The good news for everyone is that the publisher of my newest book, and first children’s picture book,No Barnyard Buddies,has catapulted us into the metaverse via www.StarStyleCommunity.com with the benefits going to Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3 charity through the sales of NFTs.
What are NFTs? Glad you asked because I didn’t know either.
NFT stands for non-fungible token, which is a unique digital asset that is transactionalized through a shared ledger system known as the blockchain.
What is a blockchain?
A blockchain is a digitally distributed ledger that facilitates the process of recording transactions and information across a network. You can think of it as a decentralized or distributed database.
Why should you be interested?
Because only 200 NFTs have been created by the very talented and soon-to-be-a mega-star illustrator, Jensen Russell depicting characters from the new children’s book, No Barnyard Bullies. (Check out her gorgeous art @nowherejen on Instagram!)Through October 25th, these one-of-a-kind art illustrations are discounted to only $89.00 each. Each purchased NFT becomes your golden ticket to enjoy exclusive experiences.
When you purchase an NFT, you become a member of the StarStyle® community. As a member, you are entitled to participate in exciting events exclusive to this community including hangouts, storytelling, book readings, sneak peeks, classes, discussions, and good old down-on-the-farm fun, all virtually from the comfort of your couch.
On October 26th, the price increases and the first 200 NFTS “drop” meaning we get to see what we purchased. Your NFT is collectible, tradeable, and sellable, and best of all you can buy it using a credit card with no crypocurrency involved at https://www.StarStyleCommunity.com
Be the Star You Are!® and the populations of women, families, and youth that we serve reap the profits. Everyone wins!
Because I want to be in the metaverse, I bought these NFTS and I can’t wait to see what art I purchased on October 26th.
The book, No Barnyard Bullies,has been a mega sensation and we’ve had to order hundreds more copies to fill the orders. Make sure you get your copies and tell your friends. Visit https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store and let me know how you want the books autographed. If you want to buy 30 or more copies, shoot me an email because you’ll get a better deal.
Read below for just a few of the upcoming exclusive experiences awaiting you when you buy an NFT benefitting Be the Star You Are!® Visit the facts page for answers to your questions!
Thanks so much for your ongoing support! The metaverse is exciting!
Here are a few of the exclusive experiences that await you:
October 5th 2022 – NFT Pre-Sale
NFT Pre-Sale launches with 10% discount on purchases
October 26th 2022 – NFT DROP
First Barnyard Bullies NFT DROP
Saturday, November 12th 4-6pm PT – In-Person Book Signing
In-Person Book Signing at Point Richmond Art Gallery, 145 West Richmond Avenue, Point Richmond, California, 94801. Come meet Cynthia, enjoy refreshments, and FREE gift to NFT holders.
Sunday, November 6th 1pm PT/4pm ET – First ZOOM hangout with Cynthia Brian and Special Guest
First ZOOM hangout with Cynthia Brian and special guest, illustrator Jensen Russell. Find out the true story about the animals behind the book No Barnyard Bullies and how the illustrator interpreted the events. Ask questions and get answers.
Monday, November 21st 2pm PT/5pm ET – “Thanksgiving is Everyday”
“Thanksgiving is Everyday” Zoom discussion about how to be grateful with Cynthia Brian
Sunday, December 18th 4pm PT/7pm ET – Virtual Wine Experience and class
Virtual Wine Experience and class with Sommelier Heather Brittany
January 2023 – ZOOM Sneak peek of next book in the Stella Bella series
ZOOM Sneak peek of next book in the Stella Bella series. Learn how you can have the opportunity to name a character in the book or dedicate the book to someone you love.
February 2023 – Share the love.
Share the love. To celebrate Valentine’s Day, Cynthia will be reading from one of her books.
“Learning is acquired by reading books; but the much more necessary learning, the knowledge of the world, is only to be acquired by reading man and studying all the various editions of them.” Lord Chesterton
A MESSAGE FROM FOUNDER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CYNTHIA BRIAN
When I was growing up, summer vacation lasted until the week after Labor Day. Of course, we didn’t get out of school until mid-June, but that seemed reasonable since August is always such a hot month. Today, our kids are back in the classroom in August and for some school districts, the curriculum is completed by the end of May.
Many schools are struggling with getting enough supplies to enrich their students. If you have the means, consider what our Kindness Coordinator, Karen Kitchel, does annually. Donate a few items that teachers can use to your local schools. Everyone wins.
And with school back in session, remember to drive safely and slowly through areas when children are present. Actually drive safely and slowly at all times!
This past week, I spent over 40 hours on tech support for a variety of issues, plus my Linkedin account was hacked. Linkedin doesn’t have chat or phone support. It was infuriating and exhausting trying to find a remedy to a deleted account with blocked emails/passwords when the only way to access any support is by logging in. Twitter to the rescue. I found a Linkedin support person on Twitter who opened a case within 3 days and re-instated my hacked account. This made me ponder the safety of our youth who use their phones for their livelihood. Encourage 2 step verifications, changing passwords, and not sharing personal information. I found the Linkedin hacking to be very disruptive, intrusive, and upsetting. We don’t want our kids to experience weirdos online.
On a very exciting and positive note, my newest book is a children’s picture book, No Barnyard Bullies. The series is titled Stella Bella’s Barnyard Adventures and it is going to delight little ones (and maybe big ones, too). This series is based on true-life stories that I’ve learned from my adopted animals over the years since growing up on a farm. The book will be available before the end of the year and we will start pre-sales soon with a discount for you plus gifts of extra goodies. Best of all, the proceeds benefit Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3, where we really care about kids. More information below.
Also, come meet BTSYA volunteers and radio reporters in person at the Pear and Wine Festival to be held on Saturday, September 24th. We welcome sponsorships and appreciate donations to continue our vital empowerment work embedded in our mottos,
“To be a leader, you must be a reader. Read, lead, succeed. Communicate, collaborate, innovate!”
School is back in session. Here’s to a safe and fabulous learning experience for everyone.
As prices for basic school supplies have greatly increased, we can only imagine the challenge faced by families with many children who all need supplies. This presents a simple and easy opportunity for us to come to the aid of our neighbors everywhere.
Teachers often choose to purchase extra supplies rather than to see a child go without. If asked what is needed, they will quickly provide a short list of things like crayons, pencils, markers, folders, etc. which can all be purchased either in-store or online and delivered to a home or school.
Each year I enjoy bringing an assortment of school supplies to Partnership Academy in Richfield, Minnesota where I volunteer to assist a Kindergarten teacher. The response always makes me smile.
If you want to help children get off to a great start, consider donating supplies to your local schools. They will be greatly appreciated and give everyone a smile.
Karen Kitchel who penned two chapters in the book, Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers Celebrating Gifts of Positive Voices in a Changing Digital World, is the Kindness Coordinator volunteer with BTSYA. She serves meals to the homeless and is a volunteer teacher, writer, job coach, and mentor. www.scatteringkindness.com
NEW CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK SERIES COMING!
Within the next few months, Be the Star You Are!® is excited to announce the launch of a new children’s picture book series, Stella Bella’s Barnyard Adventures, authored by Executive Director, Cynthia Brian, with proceeds benefiting Be the Star You Are!®. Also coming will be NFT’s related to the series and events of empowerment.
The animal kingdom is filled with timely and timeless tales that are relatable to humans. The animal family of Stella Bella’s Barnyard Adventures experiences complex encounters that challenge their integrity, individuality, and character while amplifying diverse expressions and original viewpoints to co-exist as a group. The barnyard animals address critical issues facing children including bullying, nature, power struggles, adversity, adoption, homelessness, creativity, justice, health, kindness, ethnicity, and being different through a cultural lens of hope and resolution. With visually rich illustrations, each picture book moves a child to appreciate all animals while learning the lessons the natural world teaches humans.
Format
Each book is 32 pages peppered with lively conversations between the species. Colorful, animated illustrations of the characters by Jensen Russell bring the prose and poetry dialog to life.
No Barnyard Bulliesfollows a pampered piglet who lives in an apartment as she is re-homed to a barnyard filled with happy critters. Thinking that she is the Queen, she bullies the other animals until she is stopped by a tiny bunny who defends a three-legged goat from her attacks. Everyone is equal in Stella Bella’s barnyard where bullies are not tolerated and inclusiveness is paramount.
Jensen is an illustrator based out of Savannah, Georgia. She is currently finishing her last year as a student at Savannah College of Art and Design working towards a BFA in Illustration with a concentration in Publication. She currently works within children’s book illustration and editorial/commercial freelance. She have always had a taste for the strange and unusual and strives to incorporate this into her art in a way that is comforting and touches upon inner-child healing. Her goal in my art is to exaggerate the human experience and encourage others to feel emotions all the way through.
instagram@nowherejen
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE PEAR AND WINE FESTIVAL
It sure feels great to have in-person events occurring again. Join us at our Be the Star You Are! booth at the Pear and Wine Festival on September 24, 2022 from 11-3pm in the Moraga Commons Park. BTSYA volunteers and radio reporters will be offering crafts for kids, a reading circle, and we’ll plant seeds for literacy. We’ll have several free give-aways as well. The festival features food, pie eating contests, wine, live music, arts and plenty of activities for kids, including inflatables. The event is FREE and the location is beautiful. Enjoy a wonderful day of fun with the family. Sponsorships available. More info: https://www.bethestaryouare.org/events-1/2022-pear-and-wine-festival-a-day-of-free-family-fun
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